Gudele playground, or an empty land adjacent to Acacia and Zain in Gudele Office in Gudele - Credit: Koang Pal Chang/Eye Radio - April 2, 2023

A report by the Central Equatoria state investigation committee found that the Playground adjacent to Acacia and Zain in Gudele sold to an investor belonged to individuals, not the state government.

The ground was known for cultural and sporting activities including football.

However, to the dismay of the residents, the 16,000 square meters of land were cleared, and well-armed security forces were deployed to the place.

On March 21^st, 2023, Governor Emmanuel Adil formed a fact-finding committee following a public outcry after the deployment of security apparatus on the ground.

He also ordered the suspension of ongoing construction on the site.

The investigation was to establish whether the area belong to the government or not.

Wayi Godwill Edward, the State Minister of Cabinet Affairs is the Deputy Chair of the Committee.

Speaking to the press this morning, they said the committee found out the area was community land and allotted to some individuals.

However, the unnamed persons later sold out the area to an investor through their chiefs.

He then dismissed the allegations against the government.

“The committee that was formed by His Excellency Emmanuel Adil Anthony, the governor of Central Equatoria State to investigate the status and ownership of Zain ground met the governor to present the finding about the status of Zain ground,” said Godwill.

“There were allegations that the government had sold out public land to an individual, and in our findings, that place is a community place,

“The community allotted two plots to individuals, so, those two individuals sold it out to an investor,

“The committee have dismissed the allegations that the state government or the local government of Juba County had sold that place to an individual,

“It was a community land, and community through the chiefs demarcated that place as plots and that was done since 2012 according to the documents and the map we obtained. We physically went to see it at the Luri Payam headquarters.”